Test kit for detecting arsenic

Abstract

In one embodiment the present invention describes a test kit for detecting arsenic concentration in a sample. The test kit includes a stable bromide compound capable of being made into a solution comprising bromine, a dye, wherein the bromine to the dye ratio is in a range from about 4:1 to about 5:1, an acid, and a quantification system for detecting the concentration of arsenic in the sample. In another embodiment the present invention describes a test kit for detecting a concentration of up to 0.03 parts per million of arsenic in a sample. A method of using the test kit to detect concentration of arsenic in a sample is also described.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A test kit for detecting arsenic concentration in a sample, comprising, a stable bromide compound, being made into a solution comprising bromine; a dye; and an acid, wherein the bromine to the dye ratio is in a range from about 4:1 to about 5:1, wherein the dye is selected from malachite green, chlorpromazine, methyl orange, rhodamine B, variamine blue, ammonium molybdate, 4 -dimethylamino benzaldehyde, N-N-diphenylbendamidine or methyl red; and a quantification system for detecting the concentration of arsenic in the sample. 
     
     
       2. A test kit for detecting a concentration of up to 0.03 parts per million of arsenic in a sample, comprising,
 a stable bromide compound capable of being made into a solution comprising bromine; 
 a dye; 
 an acid; and 
 a quantification system for detecting the amount of arsenic in the sample. 
 
     
     
       3. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the quantification system is an analytical instrument. 
     
     
       4. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the quantification system is a spectrophotometer. 
     
     
       5. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the quantification system is a count of number of drops of dye. 
     
     
       6. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the quantification system is a visual comparison chart. 
     
     
       7. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of arsenic is in a range from about 0.003 parts per million to about 0.03 parts per million. 
     
     
       8. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the bromide compound is a bromide-bromate solution. 
     
     
       9. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the arsenic is trivalent arsenic. 
     
     
       10. The test kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is selected from a water sample, a soil sample, a plant sample, a biological fluid sample, or an effluent sample. 
     
     
       11. A method of using a test kit for detecting concentration of arsenic in a sample, comprising, a stable bromide compound being made into a solution comprising bromine, a dye and an acid, wherein the bromine to the dye ratio is in a range from about 4:1 to about 5:1, wherein the dye is selected from malachite green, chlorpromazine, methyl orange, rhodamine B, variamine blue, ammonium molybdate, 4-dimethylamino benzaldehyde, N-N-diphenylbendamidine or methyl red; and a quantification system for detecting the concentration of arsenic in the sample, the method comprising the steps of:
 preparing the solution comprising bromine from the stable bromide compound; adding the solution comprising bromine to the sample to form a mixture; adding an amount of the dye to the mixture to enable a change in color of the mixture, and determining the concentration of arsenic in the sample. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ratio of the bromine to the dye is in a range from about 4:1 to about 5:1. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ratio of the bromine to the acid is in a range from about 0.35:1 to about 0.4:1. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the quantification system is an analytical instrument. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the quantification system is a spectrophotometer. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the quantification system is a count of number of drops of dye. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the quantification system is a visual comparison chart. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the concentration of arsenic is in a range from about 0.003 parts per million to about 0.03 parts per million. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bromide compound is a bromide-bromate solution. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the arsenic is trivalent Arsenic.